USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 91
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Dr. Clarence Paul Hinchman, now a practicing physician at Geneva, Indiana, was graduated from the Connersville high school in 1910, having had his earlier schooling in the Fairview schools. In the fall of that year he entered Indiana University, from which he received the degree of Bache- lor of Science in 1914, and from the School of Medicine, of which institu- tion he was graduated in 1916, following which he was given a year of hospital work as an interne in the City Hospital at Indianapolis. He then passed the examination of the state board of medical examiners and was licensed to practice medicine, having passed with a grade of nine hundred and forty-nine points out of a possible one thousand points, the highest record made for many years. Doctor Hinchman is a member of the Delta Upsilon and Phi Chi fraternities, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of these organizations. On April 17, 1913, he married Nellie Lee Shortridge, daughter of Sanford and Ida (Dora) Shortridge, and to this union twin sons were born, one of whom died in infancy, the surviving child being Wayne Deryl.
Allen Berle Hinchman was graduated from the Connersville high school in 1912, his previous schooling having included a course of three years in
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Fairview Academy. He then spent the terms of 1912-13 and 1913-14 as a student in the agricultural department of Purdue University, during which period he became affiliated with the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. On December 14, 1916, he married Vera V. Poppoon, daughter of John and Flor- ence (Griffin ) Poppoon, of the Raleigh neighborhood, over in Rush county. Allen Berle Hinchman and wife live on the old Allen Hinchman farm in Rush county, thus occupying in the fourth generation the place originally entered by his great-grandfather back in pioneer days and which is now owned by U. G. Hinchman.
Mary Athalia-Hinchman was graduated from the Fairview high school in 1913 and in 1914 was graduated from the commissioned high school course in the Muncie Normal School. She then entered Butler College, but on account of illness was compelled to abandon her studies there in Feb- ruary, 1915. She has made a special study of elocution and oratory and has become quite proficient along those lines.
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THOMAS C. McBURNEY.
Thomas C. McBurney, long a resident of Fayette county. and now a well-known, retired citizen of Connersville, was born in Preble county, Ohio, on May 21, 1845, the son of Samuel and Jane (Hall) McBurney.
Samuel and Jane (Hall) McBurney were natives of Ireland and there they received their education in the public schools, grew up and were mar- ried. They established their home in their native land, but soon thereafter decided to come to America. On their arrival in the United States they settled on a farm in Preble county, Ohio. Mr. McBurney was not to long enjoy the pleasures of working for a home in the new land, for his death occurred in 1848. The widow continued to live in the county and rear her children, and there she died in 1888. She was a woman of remarkable ability, and a splendid manager. Her life was for the most part a busy one, yet she took much pleasure in the care and attention of her children, after the death of her husband. Both Mr. and Mrs. McBurney were hard- working people and were greatly admired for their many qualities of true manhood and womanhood. They were the parents of five children, as fol- lows, Eliza Ann, William John, James B., Margaret and Thomas C., all of whom are now deceased with the exceptions of James B., of Kingman county, Kansas, and Thomas C.
Thomas C. McBurney received but a limited education in the schools
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of Preble county, Ohio, where he was born and reared. Circumstances made it necessary that lie should begin life's battle for himself at the age when most boys are in school. He worked as a farm hand and thus supported himself and assisted his mother, as much as it was possible for him to do. He learned the painter's trade at which he worked for about three years. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Etta Campbell, of Bloomington, In- diana, and the daughter of Benjamin and Susan (Payton) Campbell. For two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. McBurney lived in Preble county, when in 1870, they came to Rush county, Indiana. Here Mr. Mc- Burney engaged in general farming by the day and for two years he worked for J. B. Cook. He then came to Fayette county, and for eight years he farmed on the Robert Martin place in Orange township. The family then moved to Glenwood, Indiana, where Mr. McBurney engaged in teaming until 1882, when he came to Connersville and engaged in the lumber and timber business. He continued in this business until 1901, since which time he has devoted himself to the interest of his farm of two hundred acres in Connersville township, one and one-half miles west of town. He is suc- cessful in the management of his farm and his stock and insists upon the best cultivation, and keeps some splendid stock. In addition to large in- terests in the farm, he is a stockholder in the Fayette Farmers and Mer- chants Trust Company at Connersville and a director of the Bank of Glen- wood, at Glenwood, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. McBurney are the parents of one child, Rossie M., who received her education in the local and high school, and is now at home with her parents. The inother and daughter are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take much interest in all church and reli- gions work. The family are prominent in the social life of their home city, where they are held in high regard.
Mr. McBurney is a Republican and has always taken a keen interest in local affairs, and was for six years a member of the county council of Fay- ette county, and for two years a member of the city council of Connersville, in which capacity he was recognized as a faithful public servant. His best efforts were exerted in the interests of the general public and for the growth and betterment of the county and city. He was most progressive and ad- vocated improvements that would bring the most good to the greatest nun- ber of people. He believed in substantial public improvements, and the en- forcement of the laws as they are written. He rendered much valuable service to the city and assisted in the inauguration of reforms, that will have a lasting effect on the future greatness of the city. He has always taken
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the deepest interest in the success of the schools, for he has known from experience the hardships of a limited education. The present beautiful high school was built while he was a member of the city council.
Mr. McBurney has had a busy and eventful life. Thrown upon his own resources, when he was but a lad, he has known what it was to shift for himself. Starting life with a limited education and with no financial sup- port, he has risen to a position of influence, and is today recognized as one of the substantial and successful men of the county. He has always been a hard worker and a good manager. His early life on the farm and in the timber business was to him what school would be to most boys. His desire was ever to give to his employers the best service that was his to give, and whether he was in the log lumber business, on the farm or teaming, he felt the dignity of his work, and when yet a lad, became impressed with the notion that to succeed one must do well the work in hand, and not wait for another position to demonstrate his ability. Today, the orphan lad of many years ago, in that Ohio county, is an honored and respected citizen of one of the thriving little cities of Indiana, for here Thomas C. McBur- ney is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.
In 1902 was organized the Fayette county Free Fair, and Mr. McBur- ney was one of the organizers; he has been superintendent of the fair ever since except for one year and was president for one year.
JOSEPHUS WRIGHT HOLTER.
Josephus Wright Holter, a well-known and prominent resident of Con- nersville, Fayette county, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, on Novem- ber 24, 1871, and is the son of Gen. Marcellus John Wesley Holter, whose wife was Helen Jefferies. The parents were natives of Ohio and there they were educated in the public schools, grew up and were married. The father enlisted in the army at the time of the Civil War, and entered the service as a private and was mustered out as a brigadier-general.
Marcellus John Wesley Holter was born on a farm near Olive Branch, Clermont county, Ohio, January 10, 1834, and was in his eightieth year at the time of his death. He inherited a vigorous physical and mental constitu- tion. His education was rounded out by one year's attendance at the Farm- er's College, College Hill, Ohio, when Freeman Carey was its president. He was teaching school at the outbreak of the Civil War and resigned his
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position to enlist as a private soldier. He first enlisted in Company E, Twenty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served during the three months memorable campaign in western Virginia, during which time he was promoted to orderly sergeant.
On September 3, 1861, Orderly-sergeant Holter enlisted in Company F, Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 'and in a few weeks was appointed first lieutenant, serving until August, 1862, when he was made adjutant of the regiment. On May 27, 1864, he was taken prisoner at the battle of New Hope Church, Georgia, in which battle his brother, Rufus, was killed. He was confined in three southern prisons and in November, 1864, was exchanged by a mistake. In March, 1865, General Cowen appointed Holter, who was then a captain, to be lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, by telegram without previous notice. The regiment was placed in his command and sent to Shenandoah Valley.
In July, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Alexandria, Virginia, where the government stores were placed under Colonel Holter's charge. While at Alexandria he was commissioned colonel, and in April, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general for gallant and meritorious service. He was stationed at Alexandria until December, 1865, when he was mustered out.
General Holter participated, among others, in the following battles- Ivy Mountain, Pittsburg Landing, Stone's River, Crab Orchard, Perryville, Wild-Cat Mountain, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. He was with Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign and was engaged at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost, Adamsville, Dallas and New Hope Church, where he was captured. He was wounded but once and then not seriously. He was among the first to reach the top of the crest at Missionary Ridge, where he planted the regimental colors on a Confederate battery. While doing this, the scabbard of his sword was shot off.
As a husband, father, friend and private citizen, his life depicted a pastoral. His career as a soldier developed an epic. His memory will shed a perpetual benediction.
Josephus Wright Holter received his primary education in the public schools of his native state and then took a course in a business college and engaged in the work of a bookkeeper. He came to Indiana in the year 1892, and engaged with the Indiana Furniture Company, with whom he remained for several years. He was later with the McFarlan Company and is now employed with the Rex Company, whose service he entered as an inspector and now has charge of the stock department.
On November 22, 1897, Josephus Wright Holter was united in mar-
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riage to May Webb, who was born eight miles southwest of Connersville, in Columbia township, and is the daughter of Forrest M. and Cornelia (Jones) Webb. Her father was born on the farm in the county, that his grand- father Edward Webb had owned. Both her father and mother were born in Columbia township, Fayette county. Great-grandfather Webb, who was Edward, was born in 1769 in Virginia. He went to Boone county, Ken- tucky, then to Indiana Territory, near Harrison, Ohio, and later, in 1811, to Fayette county, Columbia township, where he died on July 21, 1851. He was one of the associate judges for twenty-seven years. Since that time the farm has been out of the family for but thirty years, and is now owned by May Webb Holter. Forrest Webb received his education in the old log school house. He continued to reside on the old Webb homestead, until the death of his wife, Cornelia (Jones) Webb, on May 24, 1880, when he retired from the farm, and was later married and moved to Laurel. In addition to being a successful farmer, Mr. Webb, at one time operated a grist-mill at Milroy, and was interested in a drug-store with Doctor Gifford. He was also an extensive dealer in live stock. and was known as one of the sub- stantial and influential men of the county. He was a stanch Republican, and his father had been a supporter of the principles of the Whig party. He was always active in local affairs and held many of the township offices. He was an active member of the Christian church and of the Knights of Pythias lodge. By his first wife he was the father of three children, Forrest, who died in 1876; Nellie May and Paul Jones, who is now deceased. By his second marriage one child was born, Harry I., a conductor on the Big Four railroad. The Webb family were always prominent in the activities of the county, and had much to do with its development and improvement. The early members of the family having come to this section of the state when the greater part of the district was an undeveloped wilderness, and when the government was still having much trouble with the Indians. Their lives were hard ones, and much honor and credit are due them for the work that they did. They assisted in the laying of a foundation for a splendid gov- ernment, the establishment of good schools and the building of churches. Today the splendid farms, modern schools, beautiful churches and up-to-date towns and cities are due to the men and women who first settled in this county.
Josephus Wright and May (Webb) Holter are the parents of one child, Forrest Webb, who was born on September 6, 1899. He is now a student in the high school at Connersville and will finish the course of study with the class of 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Holter have long been prominent in the social
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and the religious life of their home community, and are a most worthy people, who are held in the highest regard by all who know them. Their families have had much to do with the history making of the United States, as well as the state of Indiana. Representatives of the family were active in the War of the Revolution, the Indian wars, as well as the wars in which the nation has been engaged. They are of families of patriots and noble citizens, who have rendered valuable services at all times. They have been closely identified with the interests of Fayette county and the city of Con- nersville for many years, and their best efforts have always been given for the advancement of their home community.
WILLIAM W. WAINWRIGHT.
William W. Wainwright, president of the Wainwright Engineering Corporation, of Connersville, has been a resident of that city since the year 1871, and has had much to do with the later development of the city in an industrial way. He was born at Cottage Grove, in Union county, this state, June 7, 1854, son of Benjamin J. and Huldah (Miller) Wainwright, the former a native of the state of Virginia and the latter of Preble county, Ohio, and who were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: . Anna M., who married Dr. T. P. Wagoner, of Knightstown, this state, and is now deceased; Luella, who married John Todd, of Logansport, this state; Lucy, who died in infancy, and Ida Belle and Charles Franklin, who died in youth.
Benjamin J. Wainwright was but a child when his parents, Isaac and Margaret (Johnson) Wainwright, moved from Virginia to Indiana and settled on a farm in Union county and there he grew to manhood. Isaac Wainwright was born in the city of Philadelphia and his wife was a native of Virginia. He died in Union county, this state, at the age of eighty-four. He was thrice married, the grandmother of the subject of this sketch hav- ing been his second wife. Benjamin J. Wainwright married Huldah Miller, who was born in the neighborhood of Eaton, in Preble county, Ohio, daugh- ter of Melyne and Huldah (Ayers) Miller, early settlers of that county, the former of whom, a native of New Jersey, was a surveyor and engineer. Melyne Miller and his wife spent their last days in Preble county, both liv- ing to advanced ages. Not long after his marriage Benjamin J. Wain- wright moved to Iowa and settled on a homestead farm near Wapello, in
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Louisa county, which he proceeded to develop and on which for some years he was actively engaged in the raising of live stock. He later disposed of his interests there and returned East, making his home for some time there- after at Eaton, Ohio, but later went to Black Rock, Arkansas, where his death occurred in 1898. His widow survived him for about eight years, her death occurring at the home of her son, the subject of this sketch, at Connersville, April 11, 1906, she then being eighty-two years of age. Ben- jamin J. Wainwright and wife were members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faith.
William W. Wainwright was but a small child when his parents moved from Indiana to Iowa and much of the time in his early boyhood days was spent in the saddle, herding cattle on his father's ranch in the latter state. He was not yet sixteen years of age when the family returned East, Decem- ber 29, 1869, and he completed his schooling at Eaton, Ohio, where he began working in a brick yard. In August, 1871, he came over into Indiana and began working in the old Eagle mills in East Connersville, and was there employed until the day before Christmas Day of that same year. On the day following Christmas he started to work in a machine shop at Conners- ville, with a view to learning the machinist's trade, and he ever since has been engaged along this line, long having been regarded as one of the leading machinist engineers in this part of the state. After his marriage in 1876 Mr. Wainwright further qualified himself by technical study and was not long thereafter made foreman of the machine plant in which he was working and was later made superintendent of the same. In 1903 Mr. Wainwright started in business for himself, establishing a small machine shop and under- taking general manufacturing, engineering and contracting. From the very beginning of this venture the business proved successful and the establish- ment has been enlarged from time to time until it now employs nearly two hundred persons. In May, 1905, Mr. Wainwright associated with him in the business his eldest son, Harry A. Wainwright, and in 1916 another son, Benjamin F. Wainwright, was taken into the concern, which at the same time was reorganized and incorporated as the Wainwright Engineering Cor- poration and has since been doing business under that firm style, but later severed his connections and moved to Macon, Georgia, to organize a manu- facturing company in which he was to be largely interested. Mr. Wain- wright is independent in his political views and has never taken a particularly active part in political affairs. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, affiliated with Warren Lodge No. 15, Free and Accepted Masons, at Connersville, and with the consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Indianapolis.
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On June 11, 1876, William W. Wainwright was united in marriage to Wilhelmina C. Baker, who was born at Essen, the seat of the great Krupp gun works, in Germany, daughter of Leopold and Wilhelmina (Wickahoff) Baker, also natives of Germany, both now deceased, who were the parents of six children, those besides Mrs. Wainwright being Henry L., Maximilian, Charles, Lena and one who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Wainwright six children have been born, namely: Harry A., who is associated with his father in the Wainwright Engineering Corporation and who married Emma K. Frank and has three children, Francis Jack, William Nelson and Richard Denman ; Mabel C., who is at home; Charles F., who married Hazel Gibbs and lives in Chicago; Benjamin F., who married Marie Fowler, of Macon, Georgia; Emmet P., an artist and newspaper cartoonist, who married Ella Cornell, of Logansport, Indiana, and William Warren, Jr., a machinist, who lives at home. The Wainwrights have a very pleasant home at Connersville and have ever taken a proper interest in the general social activities of their home city.
ALANSON ADAMS.
Alanson Adams, a well-known manufacturer of pumps, and now living a retired life at Connersville, Fayette county, was born at Lodi, New York, on December 6, 1835, and is the son of Wilson T. and Elizabeth (Fruits) Adams.
Wilson T. Adams was born in Maryland in the year 1796, where he lived until the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Fruits, who was born in ยท Kentucky, at the head of Lucky river, in 1800. They were educated in the schools of their respective states, and soon after their marriage they came to Indiana and established their home at Franklin, in the year 1817. As a young man, Mr. Adams learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, at which he worked in Franklin and later moved to Brookville, where he had a mill. His home near Brookville was in the heavy timber and during a part of the year, he did much hunting and trapping, and met with considerable success. He and his wife later moved to the state of New York, and located in Cat- taraugus county, where they lived for thirty-five years, and reared a large family of children. Mr. Adams at this time in his life decided to return to Indiana, and made much of the trip by river boat, loaded with lumber. He purchased one hundred pumps made out of cucumber timber, and on his arrival in the state, he located in Fayette county, near Everton, on Ellis
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creek. He did much business in the pump business and was the originator of the Adams pump, the first modern wood pump of its kind put on the market. He also invented the cylinder pump, for which he gained much recognition. He lived on Ellis creek for many years and later sold to his son, Sabine, and took up his home on Bear creek, where he died some years ago. His widow died at the home of her son, Alanson. Mr. and Mrs. Adams were the parents of the following children: An infant, Ambrose, Andrew, Sabina, Martin, Lydia, Marion, Alanson, David, Sarah and Wilson. The family are now all deceased with the exception of Alanson, David, who lives with his children; Sarah, the widow of John Hamilton, and Wilson, of Kokomo, Indiana.
Alanson Adams received his education in the old log school house, with a slab for a seat and a shelf on the side of the building for a desk. He remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age, when he started in the pump business for himself, on Bear creek. He remained there for seven years, when he purchased land on Ellis creek, and in 1898 moved to Jonesboro, Indiana, where he remained for twelve years and for one year he lived at Lyonsville. In February, 1862, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Taylor, who was born in Jackson township, Fayette county, and was the daughter of Samuel and Lunda ( Water) Taylor.
Alanson and Elizabeth Adams were the parents of twelve children, four of whom are now living: William Henry, Elizabeth, Samuel, and Wilson T. William Henry was born in Fayette county, where he received his edu- cation and grew to manhood. He engaged in the pump business and now lives at East Connersville. He is married to Elizabeth Crolley and they are the parents of six children, Walter, Robert, Nellie, Marie, Kenneth and Homer. Elizabeth was also born in Fayette county, and here received her education in the public schools. She was first married to George Horning, and after his death was united in marriage to Lucas Browning, of East Con- nersville, and to them have been born five children: Ralph, Rufus, Frank, Curtis, and Lina. Samnel, a native of the county, is now successfully engaged in general farming, and the mill business in Jackson township. He is married to Mary C. Bradburn, and they are the parents of the follow- ing children: Edward, now deceased; Arvilla, Stella and Effie. Wilson T. is a teamster of East Connersville, and is married to Grace Fleming, and to them have been born three children. Milburn, Josephine and Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Adams is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias. William Henry is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and Wilson is a Mason, a Red Man and a Moose.
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